Web controlling mechanism



Feb. 7 1933. J mcHTE'R 1 ,896,802

WEB CONTROLLING IECHANISI Filed Dec. 14, 1929 s Sheets-She s} 1 b- 1933- V c. J. RICHTER. 1,896,802

WEB CONTROLLING MECHANISM Filed Dec. 14, 1929 a Sheets-Skeet 2 Feb-7,1933. c. J.'RICHTER 1,396,802

' was CONTROLLING murmurs! Filed Dec. 14, 1929 :s'sneets-snee'g 3 Patented Feb. 7, 1933 PATENT oFnc "UNITED STATES J. RICHTER, F BERWYN, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO GOSS PRINTING PRESS COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS WEB CONTROLLING MECHANISM Application filed December 14, 1929. Serial no. 414,122.

The present invention relates to a new and useful web controlling mechanism and more particularly to such'a mechanism for use in connection ,with high-speed rotary printing presses such as are commonly employed for the printing of newspapers; v

Objects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in part hereinafter and in part will be obvious herefrom, or may be m learned by practice with the invention, the

same being realized and attained by means of the instrumentalities and combinations pointed out in the appended claims.

The invention consists in the novel parts, construction, arrangements, combinations and improvements herein shown and described.

The accompanying drawings, referred to herein and constitutlng apart hereof, illustrate one embodiment of-the invention, and togetherwith the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention. Of the drawings: 1

Figure 1 is an endelevation of one embodiment of a web controlling mechanism illustrative of the present invention, with certain parts broken away;

.Figure 2 is a fragmentary detailed vertical section taken on the line 2- -2 of Figurel;

Figure 3 1s a detailed section taken on the line.33 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary vertical section taken on the line 4-4 of Figure 1; and

Figure 5'is a detailed section of a modified form of the roller shown in Figure '2.

The present invention-has for its object the provision of a web controlling mechanism for use in connection with high speed rotary printing presses; for maintaining the-tension of the web substantially constant undernor- .mal conditions of operation,-and for quickly stopping the rotation of the web roll to prevent fouling of the press when the press is shut down or there is av break in the web as it is fed to the printing press. Another object of the invention is the provision of aweb controlling mechanism for controlling the rotation of one or more web rolls, as well as the provision of aweb controlIing mechanism that is simple and requires substantially no attention on the part of the operator. The

invention also provides a web controlling mechanism by which the tension of the web,

can be maintained substantially constant at substantially any desired tension and can thus be easily varied to meet the requirements of the press. According to the present preferred embodiment of the invention, means are pro-' vided for rotatably supportin a web roll, from which a web of paper is rawn off and led to a web using machine, such as a rotary printing press. The tensioning means, c0 acting with the web roll to tension the web as the web is drawn from the web roll by the printing press, preferably comprises a plurality of spaced-apart friction belts which are movable into engagement with the periphery of the web roll and are pressed into contact with the web roll to oppose the rotation of the web roll and produce the necessary tension on the web, and these friction belts are preferably perlodically moved by spring means to maintain them incontact with the web roll as the web roll gradually diminishes with the beltsand moves them as the web' roll diminishes size, thereby maintaining the pressure necessarybetween the belts and a 3 The'action of the spring on the a the web rollto effect substantially constant web tension. Means are also provided, in

the preferred embodiment, for varying the tension which is maintained on the web and for this purpose, means are provided for va-' rying the force with which the pilot roller is held against movement by the web tension.

Other means are preferably provided for rendering inoperative-the spring, means acting to move the belts into contact with the web roll, thereby facilitating the operation of replenishing the web rolls as they become exhausted, and permitting one of the web roll supporting means to be supplied with a new web roll, while the other supporting means supports an active web roll, and other means are provided permitting the belts to be pressed intocontact with the web roll with the maximum pressure, independently of the porting armsll at either end of the web rolls and preferably extending at either side of the side frames 12 of the press by which they are supported, thereby providing a support for an active web roll 14, and a reserve web roll 15. These web roll supports may be of any convenient or desired construction and,

as they form no part :of the present inven-'' tion, are not shown in detail in the accomr panying drawings. The web rolls are supported in these arms '11 by suitable shafts passing through the axial aperture of the web roll, the shafts being rotatably journaled near the upper, or outer ends of the supporting arms 11. Means are also preferably provided for moving the web rolls and'the supporting arms 11 transversely of the webs to register the webs with the cylinders of the printing press to which the web is fed,'and for this purpose any suitable means may be provided, such as a hand wheel 17 cooperating with a threaded end 18 of the shaft by which the web roll supporting arms 11 are mounted in the side frames ,12 of the press.

For controlling the rotation of the web roll and tensioning the web as'it is drawn from the web roll by the printing press,*there are provided a plurality of flexible friction belts 20 spaced along the width of the web roll and maintained in contact with the periphery of the web roll, to oppose rotation of the roll and createthe necessary web tension. As embodied, these friction belts 20 are attached at their lower ends to a rod 21 extending from one of thelower reaches 22 of the side frames of the press to the other upper ends of these friction belts-are securely side frame, and are substantially directly beneath the corresponding web roll, while'the fastened to-the outer SIIIfaCQOfF'a-TOHGI 24 rotatably journaled above the" webroll' by means of a shaft 25 extendingacrossthe press frameand supported in the side frames "12, 26

them to compensate for the constantly de"- creasing diameter of the web roll, spring means are provided for turning the roller to which the belts are fastened and for winding the belts on the surface of the roller, thereby taking up the slack in the belts. As embodied, and as most clearly shown in Figure 2 of the drawings, the belt roller 24 is hollow and is rotatably supported on shaft 25 by means of heads 27, 28 which are provided with roller bearings 29 and fitted over the shaft. Each of these heads 27 and 28'is securely fastened to the hollow roller 24 by means of cap screws 30. A helical spring 31' surrounding the shaft 25, and having one end fastened to block 32 which is pinned to shaft 25, has its other end looped and fastened to the inner face of the head 28. .This spring acting on the roller 24, tends to keep the belts pressed againstthe periphery of the web roll as it winds the belts around the roller.

The tension of the spring 31 is preferably greatly in excessof that needed to produce the desired tension of the web, and is amply suflicient to quickly stop rotation of the web roll, when this is necessary, For the purpose. of preventing the continuous action of the spring on the belts 20, so as to maintain only the necessary degree of web tension, means are provided for normally'preventing operation of the spring 31, thereby holding the roller 24 against rotation under influence of the spring. As embodied, at one end of the roller 24, and securely fastened to the roller shaft 25 by means .of key 34, is a brake 35,

cooperating with a brake drum 36 formed as an extension of the head 28 of the belt roller 24. This brake 35, preferably comprises an anchoring piece 37 which is keyed to the shaft 25, as described, and provided at one end with an anchoring pivot pin 38 to which the brake shoes 39 are pivoted, and a tie bolt 40, spring 41., and hand Wheel 42 press the brake shoes 39 towards each other and into contact with the brake drum 36 with suflicient force to hold the belt roller 24 against rotation relatively to its shaft 25. For releas'ing the brake and permitting the roller 24 to rotate relatively to the roller shaft .25, and for winding the'belts 20 on the roller, there is provided a brake operating cam 43 pivotally mounted on an extension 44 of the anchoring-piece 37, and preferably diametrically opposite the anchoring pin 38, and between the outwardly extending ends 45 of the brake shoes 39, and this operating cam 43 is rigidly connected with an outwardly extending lever 46 fastened to the cam 43, so that as the lever 46 is turned the brake shoes 39 are spread apart, against the tension of spring 41, thereby releasing the roller 24' and permitting it to; rotate on its shaft to wind up the slack in the belts 20, increasing the pressure between the belts and the web roll, or to maintain the belts, in contact with the periphery of the web roll.

For periodically releasing the brake and taking up the slack inthe friction belts, and thereby controlling the tension of the .web drawn from the web rolls by maintaining the friction belts in contact with the periphery of the web rolls, there is provided a pilot roller,

around which the web is looped as it is drawn fromthe web roll to the printing press, and this pilot roller is moved back and forth by the tension of the web, and causes a corre- .sponding movement of the brake releasing lever, to cause the brake to be periodically released. As embodied, at one side of each of the upright frame members 12, 26-there are provided horizontally apertured brackets 50, provided with upper and lower guides 51 between which are mounted journal blocks 52, slidable in the guideways at either side of the press frame, and rotatably supporting the pilot roller 53'by the projecting ends of its shaft 54. In passing to the press, the web 55 is drawn over guide roller 56, and is looped over the pilot roller between guide rollers 57, these guide rollers being rotatably journaled at their ends 'in the side frames of the press.

For transmitting movement of the pilot roller to the brake operating'means for periodically releasing the brake and allowing the spring to rotate the belt roller, pilot roller 53 is connected with-arms 58, at either side of the frame, and preferaby on the outsideof the press frame, by means of links 59, one at either end of the pilot roller 53, which are apertured at one endto receive and be moved by the ends of the pilot roller shaft 54, and

are connected by means of pivot pins at their other ends with the arms 58. Arms 58 are preferably keyed to a shaft 61 extending from one side of the press frame to the other, and thus prevent the pilot roller from moving out of alinement with the web.

The brake mechanism is connected with the pilot roller by means of alever 62 securely fastened to one end of roller shaft 25, which is rotatably journaled in the side frames of the press, and at its upper end, lever'62 is pivoted to one end of link 63, andlink 63, in turn, is

pivotally connected with one arm 58. As the pilot roller moves back and forth, is causes a 0 corresponding movement of the roller shaft 25 re easingdever 46 to engagethe operating stop "5 65, there y causing a displacement of the cam 43 from its normal pdsition and opening the brake shoes .39 to release the brake and move the belts into contact with theweb roll. As the belts are moved into contact with the web roll, the tension of the web will be increased causing a reverse movement of the pilot roller and a corresponding reverse movement of the brake and releasing lever 46, thereby again applying the brake and holding the belt roller 24 against movement relative to its supporting shaft 25. If desired, the brake operating stop 46 may be positioned very close to the normal position of the cam lever, so that a. slight movement of the pilot roller will be sufficient to allow the spring 31 to operate on the belts 20, although it is preferably to so position the operating stop that the brake is released only on relatively great movements ofthe pilot variably tens oningthe pilot roller so that the normally uniform tension of the, web can be varied as desired and in accordance with'the operating conditions of the press, and particularly can be varied for different widths of web rolls. As embodied, there is provided a helical spring surrounding shaft 61 to which arms 58 movedby the pilot roller 53 are fixed, and this spring is attached to shaft 61 at one end by means of collar 71, pinned to'the shaft 61, while the other end of the spring is held by collar 72 freely rotatable on shaft 61. For holding collar 72 in a fixed position, and for variably tensioning the helical spring to vary the tens' on maintained on the web, the outer portion of collar 72 is formed as a worm'gear clockwise direction (Figure 1) to move'the pilot rollerto the right and against the tension of the web. For facilitating the tens oningof the spring, and for enabling the tension 'of'the spring to be changed readily while the press is in operation, worm 74 is geared to a hand wheel 75, mounted on the side frame of the press, by bevel gears 7 6.

Further in accordance with the present invention, and as illustrated by the accompanying drawings, the tens' on of the. web is pref erably' continuously controlled and maintained constant by the pilot roller 53, and movement of the pilot roller as the tension of the web varies serves to vary the pressure of the belts against the web roll to compensate for the change in tension of the web, thereby to maintain the tension of the web constant.

The pilot roller also serves to control the pressure between the belts and the web roll during the intervals between successive movements of the belts by the'spring which serves to maintain the belts in contact with the web rolls, and thus reduces the necessity for frequent operation of the spring 31 on the belts, greatly reducing wear on the brake and renderlng the tension of the web more nearly constant.

In the present embodiment, as above set forth, the pilot roller is moved by the tension of the web' against the tension of the spring 70 and pilot roller 53 is connected with the belt roller 24 by-means of link 63, lever 62, shaft 25 and brake 35, so that movement of the pilot roller is transmitted to the belt roller and serves to wind or unwind the belts on the belt roller, thereby varyingto a relatively' small degree the pressure b tween the belts and the web roll, and e sequently the tension of the web drawn from the web-roll, and at the same timevwmding the belts on the belt roller as the web roll wears down. Immediately after each movement of the belt roller 24 relative to its sup-' porting shaft 25 the pilot roller 53 begins to, move to the right (Figure 1) ,due to the conleft to move the stop towards the brake operating lever 46, and in this position holds the brake shoes 39 open permitting the roller to be easily turned against the tension of spring 31'. After the belts 20 have been sufficiently loosened,'the handle is moved to its extreme right hand position removing the ure 1) the web controlling mechanism will be generally employed in connection with two web rolls, and the tension controlling mechanism for the other web roll will be a tinually diminishing diameter of the web substantial duplicate of that already roll, and the consequent taking up of the slack in the belts by action of the pilot roller spring 70, and continues to move to the right, until scribed, and for that reason need not be described in detail. Preferablv, however, the belts for each web roll are controlled by a it reaches a point where the brake releasing Single Pilot one! 0V9! which the Web from V lever 46 is displaced from its normal position to a sufiicient extent to sufliciently release the brake to allow the belt roller to turn relativel to the roller shaft 25, thereby aping t e force of the spring 31 to rotate the either web roll is looped as it is led to the printing press.

s the press is stopped, or in case the web breaks as it passes -through the press, the web continues to be unrolled" from the web l belt roller 24 and simultaneously rotating faster than it is drawn the P shaft 25 to move the pilot roller to the left, wlththeolesult that the 31151011 011 \thei-wehl aswell as turning the brake and brake releasing lever 46 a suficient distance to again a ply the brake to the rollerand prevent re ative movement between the roller. and shaft 25. In this manner the web tension is periodically controlled by the spring 31,

leverage to turn the roller with ease.

. operation, and for this purpose brake releasing stop is-preferably so constructed that it can be move to several different positions. As embodied, the stop ,65 is provided with a handle 80, pivoted on the side frame by pivot pin 81, and is provided with a releasable latch 82 for setting'and holdin .it in any one of its ositions. As shown at t e left of Figure 1,-t e handle may be moved to the is suddenly reduced to substantially nothing, and great quantities of paper would be accumulated between the web roll and the press, or in the press, resulting in the fouling of the press unless the rotation of the web roll were quickly stopped. Under either of these conditions, the sudden reduction in'web tensioncauses the pilot roller to be quickly moved to the right (Figure 1) by reason of the pressure'of spring 70, moving the brake operating lever 46 into contact with the brake releasing stop 65, and causing brake shoes 39 to be entirely released from'the brake drum36, thereby applying the full force of the spring and 31 to press the belts into contact with the surface of the web roll with greatly increased pressure, quickly stopping the rotation of the web roll, and after only a small amount of paper has been unrolled. This relatively great pressure between the web roll and the belts may then be removed, after the web roll has been brought to a dead stop, and before the press is started again, by inserting a bar in" one of the socketsv79-in the' head 28 of the belt roller and turning'theroller to unwind the belts. The brakereleasing stop46 may then be moved to inoperative position until the press has been started. 7 w

Referring now in detail a the modification shown by way of example in Figure of the drawings, the spring means for press- 1ng the pilot roller against the web and for 5 opposing the tension of the web acting on the pllot roller need not be formed as separate -lmits, but may be .inclosed within the belt roller, and this construction will be found particularly advantageous where only a sin le web roll is to be controlled. As embo ed, the belt roller- 24 is rotatably mounted on shaft 25 rotatably journaled in the side frames of the press, to which shaft 25, and

at one end thereof, is rigidly fixed the lever adapted to cooperate with the brake shoes 39 to hold the roller against rotation on its supporting shaft. For turnin the rolleron its. supporting shaft for win ing thebelts on the surface of the roller when the brake is released, there is provided a helical spring 89, surrounding the roller shaft 25 and extending for a considerable distance therealong, one end of this spring being attached to the head by means of cap screw while the other end is held fast to the shaft. by means of collar 91 to which the end of the spring is fastened.

Means are also provided within the roller, according to this modification of the present invention, for tensioning the pilot roller 53 and imparting to it the force necessary to oppose the tension of the web, and preferably these means comprise a variably 'tensionable spring, which can be wound to substantially an desired tension, thereby permitting the va ne at which the tension is held constant to be changed at any timeand as required by the operating conditions of the press. i As embodied, there is provided a second helical spring 92 surrounding the roller shaft 25,

one end of the spring being fastened .to the shaft by means of collar 93, pinned to the shaft, while the other end of the spring is securely fastened tothe collar 87 which rotatably mounted on the shaft 25 and rotatably supports the belt roller 24.' At its outer end collar 87 is provided withanen larged portion formed as a worm gear 94 which meshes with and may be turned by a worm 95 rotatably mounted on. the innerside of the press frame 26. Worm 95 is referably connected with a hand wheel 96 y which it may be easily turned tofvary the. tension of the sprin 92, as desired, and worm 95 locks and hol s the worm gear 94 and spring in any position.

The invention in its broader aspects. is not limited to the specific mechanisms shown and described but departures may be made therefrom within the scope of the accompanying claims without departing from the princlples of the invention and without sacrificing its chief advantages. v

What I claim is 1 Web controlling mechanism including in combination a web roll su port, frictionv belts engaging the surface of the web roll, a roller to which the belts are fastened, a pilot roller for moving the roller'to wind the belts on the roller, a brake normally movable with the roller, a spring for moving the belt' roller relatively to the brake to wind the belts on and allowing the spring to move the roller on extreme movement of the pilot roller.

2. lVeb controlling mechanism including in combination a web roll support, friction belts engagin the surface of the Web roll, a

roller for moving the roller to wind the belts on the belt roller, a spring for. moving the belt roller independently of the pilot roller to wind the belts on the belt roller, and means the roller, and means for releasing the brake roller towhic the belts are fastened, a pilot preventing movement of the belt roller relative to the pilot roller except on extreme movement of the pilot roller.

3. Web controlling mechanism including in combination a web roll support, friction belts engaging the surface of-the web roll,

a roller to which the belts are fastened, a pilot roller for moving the roller to wind the belts on the belt roller, a spring for winding the belts on the beltroller independently of the pilot roller, means normally preventing movement of the pilot roller relative to the belt roller, and means permittingmovement of the pilot roller relative to the belt roller on movement of the pilot roller to an extreme position I 4. Web controlling mechanism including in combination a web roll support, friction belts 'engagin the surface of the web roll, a roller to w ich the belts are fastened, a pilot roller for moving the roller to wind the belts on the roller, a brake mounted on the belt roller shaft and movable therewith, a s ring for moving the belt roller relative to e pilot roller and independent] thereof, brake-releasing means, and means or operating said brake-releasing means on an extreme movement of the pilot roller and brake, whereby the belt roller and pilot roller are periodically moved by the spring as the web roll wears down, and the belts are maintained in contact with the web roll to produce a constant web tension.

5; Web controlling mechanism including in combination a web roll 8|?)POIt, friction belts engagin the's'urface o the web roll, a roller to w oh the beltsare fastened, a

pilot roller for moving the roller to wind the belts on the roller, a spring for moving the roller to wind the belts on the roller, a brake normally preventing movement of the belts by the spring, and means controlled by the ilot roller for periodically releasing the rake, whereby the tension of the web is con trolled by the periodic movement of the belts by the spring and by the movement of the pilot roller.

6. Web controlling mechanism including in combination a web roll support, friction belts engaging the surface of the web roll, a roller to which the belts are attached, a pilot roller, connecting means-directly mechanically connecting the pilot roller and belt roller and moving the belt roller by changes in web tension, said connecting means including means for releasing the direct mechanical connection upon a predetermined movement of the pilot roller and means for moving the belt roller when released to wind the belts on their rollers.

7. Web controlling mechanism including in combination a web roll support, friction belts engaging the surface of the web roll, a roller to which the belts are attached, a pilot roller to move the first roller to wind the belts thereon, spring means also serving to wind the belts on their roller and means controlled by the pilot rollerfor rendering the spring means operative whereby the belts are kept in contact with said roll and the tension of the web is maintained constant.

8. Web con-trolling mechanism including in combination a web roll support, friction belts engaging the surface of the web roll, a roller to which the belts are attached, spring means to maintain the belts in contact with the surface of the web roll and a pilot roller moved by the tension of the web for moving the first roller to maintain the tension of the web constant, and means controlled by the pilot roller' for periodically applying said sprin means to said belts.

9. Web controlling mechanism including in combination a web roll support, friction belts engaging the surface of. the webroll, a roller to which the belts, are attached, a pilot roller for winding the belts on the 'first roller to maintain the pressure between the web roll and the belts constant and thereby maintain a constant web tension and means controlled by said pilot roller for periodically winding said belts on said roller including spring means acting on the belt roller to maintain the belts in contact withthe surface of the web roll.

.10. Web controlling mechanism including in combination a web roll support, friction belts engaging the surface of the web roll, a roller to which the belts are attached, a pilot roller for winding the belts on the first roller and constantly acting to maintain the web tension constant, variably tensionable spring means opposing movement of the pilot roller for varyingthe tension of the web and means controlled by said pilot roller for periodically winding said belts on said roller includ' ing spring means acting on the belt roller to maintainthe belts in contact with the surface of the web roll.

11. -lVeb controlling: mechanism including in combination a web roll support, friction belts engaging the surface of the web roll, roller means to which the belts are attached, spring, means for winding the belts onthe roller means to. maintain the belts in con-" stant contact with thesurface of the web roll and for increasing the pressure between the 1 belts and the web 'roll when the web breaks to stop rotation of the webroll, and means for periodically rendering said spring means operative.

'12. Web controlling mechanism including 1 in combination a web roll support, friction belts. engaging the surface of the web roll, a

roller to which the belts are attached, a

pilot roller moved bythe web as it is drawn from the web roll and directly mechanically 1 connected with the first roller for winding the belts on the roller and maintaining the web tension constant under normal conditions, and means brought into operation by extreme movement of said pilot roller for stopping the rotation of the web roll when the web breaks.

13. Web controlling mechanism including in combination a web roll support, friction roller to which the belts are attached, a pilot roller moved by the tension of the web for moving the first roller to maintain the ten-- sion of the web constant under normal operating conditions,.spring means to maintain the belts in contact with the surface of the web roll and for greatly increasing-the pressure between the belts and the web roll when the web breaks and means for periodically rendering said spring means operative.

15. Web controllin mechanism including in combination a we roll support, friction belts engaging the surface of the web roll, a roller to which. the belts are attached, a pilot roller to move the roller. to wind the belts on the first roller and maintain the tension of the. web constant, spring means to wind the belts on the roller to maintain the belts in contact with the periphery of the web roll as the web roll wears down and for press ing the belts against the web roll with eatly increased pressure to stop the we roll when the web breaks, said spring means operat'ing independentlyof but under control I of said pilot roller. 7

16. Web controlling mechanism including in combination a web roll support, friction belts engaging the surface of the web roll, a movable support to which the belts are attached, and means controlled by the pilot roller for periodically taking up said belts on said movable support including spring means acting on the belt roller to maintain the belts in contact web roll.

17 Web controlling mechanism including in combination a web roll support, friction belts engaging the surface of the web roll, a movable support to which the belt's are atwith the surface of the tached, a pilot roller connected with the belts and moved by the tension of the web for moving the belts relatively to the roller, spring means for periodically moving said support, said means cooperating to maintain the tension of the web constant and means operatedby said pilot roller for rendering said spring means operative in certain positions of said pilot roller.

18. Web controllin mechanism including in combination a we roll support, friction belts engaging the surface ofthe web roll, a movable support to which the belts are attached, sprlng means to maintain the belts in contact with the surface of the web roll, a pilot roller for moving the support and constantly acting to maintain the tension of the web constant and variably tensionable spring means opposing the action of the pilot roller for varying the tension of the web and means 7 operated by said pilot roller for rendering said spring means operative in certain positions of 531d pilot roller.

19. Web controlling mechanism including with greatly increased pressure to stop the, web roll when the web breaks and means for rendering said spring means operative.

In testimony whereof, I' have signed my name to this specification.

ES J. RICHTER. 

